Over the past week, hundreds of Americans were arrested for engaging in civil disobedience while protesting the ongoing war in Iraq. Resistance Media covered the DC events, which began on Thursday, the 21st, when over 30 were arrested, including the Rev. Yearwood of the DC based Hip Hop Caucus, while attempting to deliver a Declaration of Peace to the White House.

Friday, Code Pink did a number of banner drops in the Atrium of the Hart Senate Office Building, encouraging their representatives to Vote for Peace. Their voices filled the hallways of Hart, singing out 'War is Over ... If You Want It.' The Police respected Code Pink's first amendment rights and nobody was arrested.

On the following Tuesday, the police arrested around 100 people on the lawn of the capitol, the steps of the Russell Senate Office Building, and the Atrium of the Hart Senate Office Building. The day began with an inter faith vigil, where the crowd of about 250 listened to Rabbis, Priests, and Buddhists expressing their thoughts about declaring peace and accepting the consequences of civil disobedience.

Yesterday's event, the last of what the organizers label 'the first phase of the Declaration of Peace,' was a solemn symbolic funeral procession to the Russell Senate Office Building. The marchers marched in silence; only the sounds of drums and police motorcycles filled the air as the coffins, draped in flags and black cloth, were carried down the streets of Capitol Hill, past the Capitol and stunned tourists, to the doors of Russell.

Those willing to risk jail to help end the war in Iraq lay down in front of the doors of the office building, not allowing senators or their staff to enter or leave the building. While protestors read the names and ages of the dead, both Iraqi and American, police began arresting the peaceful protestors.

The following photographs are from yesterday. See the archives for photographs of the other days.

(Some of these photos also appear in this month's Peace Work as well defense exhibits 2(a) through 2(g))